Woman Accused Of Setting Boyfriend's House On Fire Over A Teddy Bear And Stabbing A Deputy

A woman from Edgewater, Florida allegedly stabbed an off-duty deputy, who tried to de-escalate a fight between her and her ex-boyfriend after she set his house on fire over a teddy bear. Brittany Bonin, 26, is now facing assault, battery and arson charges, according to WFTV.

Bonin visited her ex-boyfriend’s house in an attempt to retrieve a teddy bear she gave to his 18-month-old baby. Somehow, that led to a fight. The victim ran to his neighbor’s house, which belonged off-duty deputy Captain Cliff Williams, for help. At that point, the victim’s house was already in flames. According to WFTV, Williams tried to protect the victim from Bonin but ended up getting stabbed in his lower back in the process.

“It just goes to show you are never truly off duty,”Sheriff Mike Chitwood said of the deputy and former Marine. “He took a knife wound that was meant for someone else because his instinct was to step in as a protector.

He is being treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to WESH. A local fire department was able to extinguish the fire, but not before the home suffered a devastating amount of damage. The baby’s room and crib have been destroyed. All the child’s toys have smoke-damage.

"A lot of the damage in here is from the fish tanks; it's 90 gallons of water total," said Jacqueline Demalia, the victim's sister.

Bonin has been placed on suicide watch by a judge, who also ordered that she receive a mental health evaluation.

[Photo: Volusia County Sheriff's Department]

Crime Time is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxgen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Sign up for our Crime Time Newsletter and subscribe to our true crime podcast Martinis & Murder for all the best true crime content.